Kakuma Glasses
August 26, 2024Kakuma Co – Refugee Made Products
Partnering with Kakuma craftspeople to reach international markets.
Your donation directly allows a refugee merchant in Kakuma to get their product registered and sold internationally.
Maak Impact connects refugee entrepreneurs with supporters to fund innovative projects.
Funds go directly to projects, empowering refugees to build sustainable businesses and overcome poverty.
Supporters receive project updates and emails and are encouraged to volunteer their skills to help our entrepreneurs.
Project Overview
Kakuma Co’s mission is to provide a scalable path to stable, well-paying jobs inside the Kakuma
Refugee Camp. We work with refugee tailors, designers, and online marketers to sell refugee-
made goods in the United States, with 100% of the profits going back to Kakuma.
The Story
Kakuma Co was born while brainstorming about a way for refugees in Kakuma to access funds in the United States. We heard from some people familiar with the camp that supporting entrepreneurship and refugee businesses was one of the best ways to make a lasting impact in Kakuma, especially in the face of diminishing UN funding for the camp. Around the same time we met and began working with a refugee entrepreneur who sold things like backpacks, bracelets, and clothing that were made in the camp. We gave his business a grant and began to purchase products from refugee artisans.
Kakuma Co began in earnest after Maak Impact’s first visit to Kakuma. We met with multiple tailors, shop owners, and designers who made quality products and were excited to sell to the US. On returning back to the States, we began working with some of those refugee designers to sell products to our first customer, VLCM Technologies, for swag for one of their events. We got
a few more orders from VLCM and others and developed our Maji Bottle Holder which will soon be available to order on our website.
Impact Projections
Since we started designing products in February of 2024, we have employed over 26 people in Kakuma and paid over $6.5k to people in Kakuma, equivalent to the monthly stipend of 540 refugees. We’re currently producing another $1500 order with more growth on the way.
Get Involved
Please support Kakuma Co! If you’d like to help, you can: head to our website to see what products are available and support us with a purchase, contact us for a custom corporate swag order, or email us at [email protected] to get involved by volunteering your time or expertise. We’re always looking for product designers, ambassadors, or people willing to help with social
media!
